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FSogol

(45,356 posts)
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 03:39 PM Jul 2012

Pittsburgh - Need some tourist advice.

Hi, Going to have a free day with the wife and kids (ages 16 & 19) in Pittsburgh next week. Haven't been there since the 70s. What should I do?

He's what I am thinking so far:

Visit the Strip
Ride the inclines up to Ft Washington. (Which one is cooler? Duquesne or Monongahela?)
Warhol Museum (sadly closed on the day I'll be there.)
Lunch at Primanti Brothers.
See a Pirates game (they are home, but the game would end to late to safely get home to No. Va.)

What else an I missing?
Any restaurant recommendations? (Wife and oldest son are foodies)

Thanks

26 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pittsburgh - Need some tourist advice. (Original Post) FSogol Jul 2012 OP
Sharp Edge? VAliberal Jul 2012 #1
couple things scheming daemons Jul 2012 #2
Sharp Edge romana Jul 2012 #3
It depends on your interests. Curmudgeoness Jul 2012 #4
What's the best museum? FSogol Jul 2012 #5
In answer to your question, it depends. Curmudgeoness Jul 2012 #7
Any opinion on the Heinz Pittsburgh History Center? FSogol Jul 2012 #8
I have never been there, never knew it was there. Curmudgeoness Jul 2012 #9
Yes, I was going to suggest Heinz History Center also. Pat Riot Jul 2012 #11
the history center is fantastic! babydollhead Aug 2012 #16
Thank you to everyone who replied. FSogol Jul 2012 #6
Oh yeah Pat Riot Jul 2012 #12
Hope I'm not too late to chime in. I just got back from a two week vacation. livetohike Aug 2012 #15
Phipp's Conservatory in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh is wonderful. PA Democrat Jul 2012 #10
Pitt JPZenger Jul 2012 #13
i was at carnegie nat. history museum 45 years ago...... kooljerk666 Aug 2012 #14
Duq Incline has free parking at bottom. Mc Mike Aug 2012 #17
Put up some damn road signs. I've never been in a place with more missing road signs. HopeHoops Aug 2012 #18
You haven't tried to follow State 51 through Uniontown, then. NT. Mc Mike Aug 2012 #20
Can't say that I have. Is there some unwritten law in S.W. PA against road signs? HopeHoops Aug 2012 #21
PennDOT Omerta. Mc Mike Aug 2012 #22
Well, PennDOT DOES have a policy of leaving Jersey barriers up for multiple years for no reason. HopeHoops Aug 2012 #23
Fort Pitt Museum yortsed snacilbuper Aug 2012 #19
Did you make it to Pittsburgh? Curmudgeoness Aug 2012 #24
Yes I did and sorry for forgetting to check back with a report. FSogol Aug 2012 #25
Glad you had a nice time. Curmudgeoness Aug 2012 #26

VAliberal

(297 posts)
1. Sharp Edge?
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 04:01 PM
Jul 2012

Since moving to the Pittsburgh area, I've discovered the Sharp Edge - one location is across the street and down the block from the convention center downtown. They have a great selection of microbrews & food. I'm partial to their duck & fig pizza.

 

scheming daemons

(25,487 posts)
2. couple things
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 04:22 PM
Jul 2012

Rivers Casino (for 21 and older)

Kennywood! (Lots of changes since 70s, your teens will love it)

romana

(765 posts)
3. Sharp Edge
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 06:42 PM
Jul 2012

I absolutely second Sharp Edge. I took two recent trips to Pittsburgh and could not get enough of this place. They have something like 30 Belgian beers on tap--it was heaven!

My sister and i enjoyed The Strip a lot, and we paid $10 for Standing Room Only tickets to a Pirates game, then walked around the stadium, watched a bit of the game, and hung out at the bar. It was a good deal. We also took a boat to and from the game to the pickup place for our hotel--that was very cool and I recommend getting to the game that way if you can.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
4. It depends on your interests.
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 08:22 PM
Jul 2012

The National Aviary is in Pittsburgh. And the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is my favorite. Someone mentioned Kennywood, and with teens, that might be a good choice. I think the kids would be bored at The Strip, and you might be surprised at the changes since the 70's---much more upscale than it was, but I always enjoy it. And of course Primanti Brothers is there. I am sure it is sacrilege for me to say this, but I don't think it is worth the wait for that sandwich!

FSogol

(45,356 posts)
5. What's the best museum?
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 08:46 PM
Jul 2012

Kennywood would be fun, but it would take the entire day. If I was there 2 days, we would. I'd like them to see the character of the city.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
7. In answer to your question, it depends.
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 09:09 PM
Jul 2012

What interests you the most? Here is a link to a list of several there with a description of them:

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-museums-in-pittsburgh/

I have not been to all of them. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History/Museum of Art (both for the price of one) will take a whole day too. At least if you are anything like me. Phipps Conservatory is plants/gardens and always presented so well. The Mattress Factory is too contemporary for my taste, but many people love it. The Carnegie Science Center sounds great, but seems to be geared more toward middle school---although I have had fun there too....and they have the best Omnimax theater I have ever been to see---the screen isn't flat, but curves so that you REALLY feel it.

The National Aviary (more zoo for birds than museum): http://www.aviary.org/vis/daily.php

FSogol

(45,356 posts)
8. Any opinion on the Heinz Pittsburgh History Center?
Mon Jul 30, 2012, 09:29 PM
Jul 2012

Since we are from No. VA, we are quite spoiled for museums thanks to the Smithsonian Musuems in DC. I'd go see the Warhol museum, but it is closed on my free day.

The Aviary seems cool.

Thanks for the responses.

Pat Riot

(446 posts)
11. Yes, I was going to suggest Heinz History Center also.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:38 PM
Jul 2012

Walk down through the Strip District, eat lunch at Primantis do the History Center, It's only 6 or so more blocks, then over the bridge to PNC Park.

Or are you all up for that much walking? Whereabouts in town are you staying? How "into sports" are the kids? A good portion of Heinz is sports history, and there's also a hall of fame you can see over at Heinz Field.

The Aviary is cool, our zoo is pretty good, too. There's an acrylic tunnel you can go under the polar bear pond. Pretty freaky to see one of them swimming above you.

The Aviary, Warhol, both stadiums, and also Carnegie Science Center are on the North Side.

The Carnegie Museums are in Oakland, the college neighborhood a couple miles east of downtown. The Zoo is in another east neighbourhood, Highland Park.

babydollhead

(2,231 posts)
16. the history center is fantastic!
Thu Aug 2, 2012, 05:41 PM
Aug 2012

it really gives the flavor of the city.

Pittsburgh Glass Center is a great place.
Take them to where you liked to be.

Enjoy the people. explain the great changes that a post industrial plundered city has gone through and come out the other side, with flying colors!

Pat Riot

(446 posts)
12. Oh yeah
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 01:47 PM
Jul 2012

Obama Headquarters is at 14th and Smallman, on the same side as the History Center about 2 blocks up.

livetohike

(22,084 posts)
15. Hope I'm not too late to chime in. I just got back from a two week vacation.
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 11:51 AM
Aug 2012

We took the Just Ducky Tour of Pgh in June when my brother in law and his partner were home for vacation. It only took an hour or so on the tour. Good overview of the city and it goes on land and in the river.

http://www.justduckytours.com/

PA Democrat

(13,225 posts)
10. Phipp's Conservatory in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh is wonderful.
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 12:14 PM
Jul 2012
http://phipps.conservatory.org/phipps-online-tour.aspx

Also the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is great and is only about a half mile from Phipp's. The Carnegie has one of the best collections of dinosaur bones in the world. Both are located adjacent to the University of Pittsburgh campus and Schenley Park.

JPZenger

(6,819 posts)
13. Pitt
Tue Jul 31, 2012, 08:53 PM
Jul 2012

Across the street from the Carnegie is the U. of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning and the Heinz Chapel. There are some tours of the international rooms on the main floor of the Cathedral, which are worth seeing.

There is also a great deal of activity over at the South Side Works, which is a complex of newer development.

http://www.southsideworks.com/

Station Square used to be an interesting place, but it has gone downhill.

If you are driving to Pittsburgh from the south, you might want to do a detour and see FL Wright's Fallingwater.

 

kooljerk666

(776 posts)
14. i was at carnegie nat. history museum 45 years ago......
Wed Aug 1, 2012, 07:46 AM
Aug 2012

at 6 years of age & still remember it pretty well. It was the Tyrannosaurus Rex I saw outside of a book.

If ya have not been to a museum in a while, this was a nice one.

I remember there was a pretty big zoo there, I would guess it is better now. Zoo's, in general, have done a lot to improve quality of life of residents.

Mc Mike

(9,106 posts)
17. Duq Incline has free parking at bottom.
Sat Aug 4, 2012, 11:36 AM
Aug 2012

That's on West Carson St. (State route 837), the first right turn just west of the Ft. Pitt Bridge off ramp. You could hunt around for parking at the top of the Mon Incline, in the residential area, but it's all zoned residential 2 hr. permit parking. You'll have to pay for parking at the bottom of the Mon Incline. The Duq incline won't make you wait, but the Mon will hold the car until passengers build up on top and bottom.

The Duq. Incline has a cheap (25 cents, I think) tour of the mechanics of the system, and a lot of historical photos at its top station. There are a bunch of 'Mt. Washington' restaurants by the top station. The most reasonably priced of the upscale ones is the Georgetown Inn. You don't have to have a reservation, you can dine with a view, and you don't have to dress up. Go a little before the lunch or dinner rush, and you can get window seats. The only 'neighborhood priced' restaurant in the top terminal area is the Grandview Saloon (now the Coal Hill Steakhouse at the Grandview Saloon.) That's pub food, not really for foodies, but it still has the view of the city and valley.

Vincent's Pizza and Pasta has good Italian food. It's at Mansfield Ave. and the intersection with Poplar (State route 121), right by the Interstate 376 West (Parkway West).

If you walk East Carson between South 8th and 25th, you get a combo of neighborhood and college student businesses and eateries. Skip the yuppie pre-fab Hot Metal Works in the high South 20's. Overpriced boutiques, and architecture wise, a big faux pas.



 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
23. Well, PennDOT DOES have a policy of leaving Jersey barriers up for multiple years for no reason.
Thu Aug 23, 2012, 09:43 AM
Aug 2012

They also seem to have an unwritten law against fixing pot holes.

yortsed snacilbuper

(7,939 posts)
19. Fort Pitt Museum
Mon Aug 20, 2012, 05:28 PM
Aug 2012

Fort Pitt Museum

The Fort Pitt Museum, located in historic Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh, is a two-floor, 12,000-square-foot museum that tells the story of Western Pennsylvania’s pivotal role during the French & Indian War, the American Revolution, and as the birthplace of Pittsburgh.

The strategic location of the fort – at the Forks of the Ohio River – helped to shape the course of American and world history.

First opened in 1969 in a reconstructed bastion, the Fort Pitt Museum provides visitors with a rich understanding of the world-changing events that occurred right here in Western Pennsylvania.
Through interactive exhibitions, life-like historical figures, and recently added artifacts, visitors will learn the important role our region played in shaping the United States.

link

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
24. Did you make it to Pittsburgh?
Fri Aug 24, 2012, 09:08 PM
Aug 2012

What did you end up doing? And what did you think of whatever that was?

FSogol

(45,356 posts)
25. Yes I did and sorry for forgetting to check back with a report.
Sat Aug 25, 2012, 02:41 PM
Aug 2012

Last edited Sat Aug 25, 2012, 04:09 PM - Edit history (1)

We visited relatives around New Stanton and Greensburg over the weekend, got up early Monday and drove into the city.
Arrived just after rush hour and took a Duckee tour (city & river tour in an Amphibious vehicle)
Then we rode up the Monongahela Incline.
We drove over to the Heinz History Center
Then went to the strip, shopping and eating at
Enrico Biscotti Company
Klavons
Mullaney's Harp & Fiddles
PA Macaroni Company
Finished with dinner at Primanti Brothers.
Drove back home.

It was a beautiful day and very impressed at how nice the city looks. I was last there in the early 80s.

Thanks for all the advice. Next time I'll go to a Pirates game. The park looked great.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
26. Glad you had a nice time.
Sun Aug 26, 2012, 04:45 PM
Aug 2012

I have not been to the Heinz History Center....I will have to check it out one day. You are right, the city has come a long way from the 80's. Now if they could only make it easier to figure out how to get around! Since I live north of there, I am not just familiar with the streets and I go crazy driving it.

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